"What is there to talk about? I had a bad dream," I replied softly.
"From what I've heard, it was a very bad dream. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you," he apologized.
I shrugged. "It's okay. Jacob came over."
He nodded. "I'm glad he did."
It was quiet for a moment and I found myself blurting, "Why don't you hate me?"
He raised his eyebrows, shocked. "Why would I hate you?"
I spilled, "Why wouldn't you? I-I killed, I k-" I stopped when he shushed me and pulled me closer.
"Hush, Nessie. You did not kill anyone. You understand me? What happened to...Bella...was tragic and one of the hardest things I've ever been through but I survived it and I'm so glad that I did. You know why?" I shook my head. "Because your my daughter and I love you and I want to be here for you. I don't want to miss a single moment of your life. You're an amazing little girl and you don't even know it," he soothed.
I searched his face for any insincerity but I couldn't find any. I put my head on his shoulder.
"I love you, Daddy, but sometimes you go away and I miss you and I think about Momma, I just get extra sad," I admitted.
"I know, baby girl. How about this? Next time, we can go hunting together. Sound good?"
I smiled a little. "Sounds good."
"Okay. So, are you hungry? Do you want me to make you breakfast? Or lunch, I suppose, at this point," he asked.
"Lunch, please."
He chuckled. "Alright, then."
We spent the rest of the weekend together, resting and coloring and playing with my favorite Disney Princess dolls. When Monday rolled around though, Daddy took me to the big house early in the morning. The family had graduated from Forks High and the town thought that they had moved away to Los Angeles and because there home was on the outside of Forks, very close to Portland, they now attended a high school there and Grandpa Carlisle worked at a health clinic there. So, Monday through Friday I spent the daytime with Grandma Esme and usually Jacob. Daddy kisses me goodbye and it's usually early so I sleep awhile more before getting up.
Once I do get up though, Grandma Esme makes me breakfast and then I help her water and weed her garden. She grows lots of different bushes and flowers. It's not long after that that Jacob comes around and brings me to La Push. Once we get there we stay inside because I'm grounded, though I'm itching to go to the beach. We hang out and talk and I watch him work in the garage. Grandpa Charlie comes by for a little while to see me which he does often and then he goes to watch a game with Billy. Once it was almost time for Daddy to come home Jacob took me home like he usually does.
After Daddy got there we went back to the cottage to settle in for the evening. This was how most weekdays went and Tuesday was just the same with the exception that that evening Daddy sat me down for one last lecture on the couch before I was released from my grounding.
"So Nessie, you know why you were being punished, don't you?" He asked.
I nodded, staring at my hands. "Because I was thoughtless and snuck out of the house in the middle of the night to see Jacob."
"That's right, baby girl. Look at me, please," he said softly. I peeked up at him. "You're never going to do that again, are you?"
"No, Daddy," I said honestly.
He smiled and pulled me onto his lap. "Okay, then. You, my baby girl, are ungrounded. What are you going to do with your freedom?" He asked, happily making me smile.
"Watch TV," I answered, reaching for the remote and sliding back onto the couch. He kissed my forehead and stood up.
"Okay, one hour before bed, Nessie."
"Yes, Daddy."
The next morning, Jacob came by extra early so he could take me to the beach. I put on my bathing suit under my clothes and we headed out but not before Daddy made me put on sunblock even though its rarely sunny. At the beach, Jacob and I sat together.
"Go on, Ness, why don't you get in the water?" He asked.
I shrugged. "It's no fun alone. Will you come with me?"
"Er," he stuttered. "I don't know about that, Ness. I don't really feel like it today."
I pouted. "Please, Jakey?"
He sighed. "How do I say no to that? Come on."
"Yay!" I cheered and he laughed. He carried me out the water and dipped me under. I came up, splashing at him. "Hey!" I screamed, giggling. I made a big splash, splashing right onto his face.
"Ah!" He yelled but he was laughing.
"Heehee, you deserved it!" The rest of the day went much like this and when it came time to get out of the water my hair was all knotted and I had sand everywhere.
On the beach Jacob covered me with a towel to dry me and said, "I better get you a bath or your dad'll kill me."
I giggled. "I doubt that but okay."
After showering and taking a shower at Billy's he took me home and I had say, it had been an awesome day. I loved not being grounded.